I just bought a 1992 GS500E for $1100 with 53xx miles. Everything looks pretty good besides one of the carbs, it is all gummed up and dirt on the outside. It is only the one on the left. The right one looks fairly clean. Anyone know what the problem could be? I plan on rebuilding both of them, but would like to know what would cause this. Obviously some sort of leak, but I don't know.







And here is a pic of my new bike:

wow mine sorta looks like that but not as gummed up  no clue what it is lol

Looks like a leaking float bowl gasket.

too slow, ditto what ATLRIDER said.

Quote from: ATLRIDER on May 12, 2008, 07:59:25 AM
Looks like a leaking float bowl gasket.

My first thought was the same... but it looks like the stain is on the frame too! I can't see how a leaking gasket would allow fuel to spray onto the frame. Assuming the float bowl gasket was leaking, I'm also not convinced the stain would have risen above the bowl line. 

Whatever it is, I'd remove the carbs for a cleaning and inspection.

does it feel oily?

Quote from: ajaxgs on May 12, 2008, 08:34:12 AM
does it feel oily?

No, it kinda feels baked on. The previous owner said that it had been sitting for over a year.

I'll bet it's on the frame because of the wind blowing the gas onto the frame while it is being driven.  Gasket sounds about right to me.

Inside is what counts, however if the bike sat, and the outside looked like that, I'd venture to guess inside is worse. It has to be clean, very important.
Cool.
Buddha.

Should I be able to reuse all of the gaskets? Just clean them up and re-install them? If not, I'd like to order some new ones to have ready befor i tear it apart.

You can try and re-use them, just dont get any carb cleaner on the gaskets or o rings 

Nice shape for a 92. Real nice. Spray that nasty spot with some Simple Green and sell the bike for 1800 

That brown stuff is caramelised gas. carb cleaner will cut through it, and you definetly dont want the outside dirt getting to the inside.
Carb cleaner wont kill your gaskets ... just use the spray kind, not the chemtool dipping types.
If you dont tear the gaskets re use them by all means, O rings are prone to hardening and cracking. So replace them more often.
Selling is great, but he wants to save parking $$ and gas $$ ...
Cool.
Buddha.